1989 Cape Dory MS300

The Cape Dory MS300 is a remarkably well-designed combination of features for the discerning cruising couple. On the wind, her powerful full size sailplan tacks within a remarkable 90° while her full keel keeps you on track. The helmsman stays out of foul weather in the pilothouse with 360° visibility and with main and jib sheets close at hand. Her generous 11'5" beam translates into an ingenious interior, with a 7' galley, a large ice box with refrigerator, two burner stove with oven, plus a family size dinette. The Cape Dory MS300 has the largest V-berth ever designed in a 30' sailboat. The MS300 boasts a 40 sq. ft. cockpit that will be your family's center of action. There's room for a pair of lounge chairs or a table and four chairs for protected al fresco dining. The stern door opens onto a teak swim platform for safe and convenient access to your tender. Your choices for fun and cruising convenience will never end.

The MS300 accommodates four overnight sleeps in a forward V-berth and the convertible dinette.

The starboard galley is fitted with refrigeration. The freezer compartment makes ice easily! The galley includes a two burner alcohol stove with oven.

There is a double sink with new faucet. The hot water system is looped through the engine cooling system for convenience.

There is a port side head with stainless steel sink, newer faucet and marine toilet with macerator.

There is a Mermaid 16,500 BTU reverse-cycle Air Conditioning system that cools the below decks area comfortably.

The interior teak is in excellent condition throughout.

The wheelhouse is plenty spacious for two or three to enjoy cruising in comfort.

The cockpit could easily accommodate two loungers or a table and four chairs. There is a new bimini overhead, with side mesh curtains to keep the cockpit cool and dry.

For safety and ease of operation, the boat is equipped with a fabulous in-mast furling system for the main. All lines are run to the wheelhouse and jib sheets to the cockpit for easy cruising in all weather and sea conditions.

There is a traveler mounted on the cabintop, above the helm, out of the way, but conveniently accessed.

The new jib sail is mounted on a roller furling.

The sails are new in 2025. 

All standing rigging replaced in 2024. 

All running rigging new in 2025.

There is a Lewmar #16 in the pilothouse. There are two Lewmar #40 ST jib sheet winches in the cockpit and two Lewmar #7 mounted to mast.

All sail and rigging are like new and operate perfectly.

The bottom sides of 'Mystic' are flawless, with recent inspection and fresh bottom paint (April, 2025). 

The hull sides were painted Hunter green in April, 2025 also. 

The deck non-skid was painted in June, 2025

During recent haulout, the prop shaft and seal were replaced with brand new. The prop is likewise excellent.

Forward is mechanical windlass. There are two anchors, a Danforth and a plow, and approximately 100' of chain.

There are seven opening hatches, all recently being recently rebuilt.

The wheelhouse window frame was recently sanded, primed and painted with two coats of enamel.

Aft, is a brand new bimini over the cockpit. There are side mesh curtains to keep guests cool and dry.

There is no tender or outboard included, though there is a transom mount for an outboard motor. 

The Westerbeke 46 was built for durability, efficiency and compactness. The four cylinder engine has 127 cubic inch displacement and is cooled by a freshwater heat exchanger. It cruises comfortably at 6.5 knots, turning 1800 RPM. It sips fuel and has only about 1955 running hours. Starts and runs great and purrs like a kitten.

It's coupled to a Hurth HBW-50 gearbox and V-Drive. All operate flawlessly.

The marine toilet has a new macerator and the system works great, with no smell in the cabin.

The primary anchor windlass is a Simpson Lawrence unit, paired to approximately 100' of chain.

There are very many recent maintenance items and improvements for review in the Broker's Comments section following.

The electrical system has been recently upgraded to include:

• Four new batteries
• New battery cables
• New battery charger
• New 15 amp Sub-panel with volt meter and DC Power ports
• New Xantrex 2kw inverter
• Motion sensor light
• New Garmin Wind instrumentation package
• New Garmin instruments for wind & depth
• New 110 VAC outlets
• New USB charging ports
• New Masthead light
• New Steaming light
• and new deck light.

There is 30 amp shorepower, that powers the air conditioning easily.

A new Garmin depth

Refrigeration is 12 vdc and works great. It makes ice cubes.

Solar power was recently added.

I have always been a fan of Pilothouse sailboats. There are so many advantages, particularly for cruising couples, it's surprising that there are so few designs on the market.

The Cape Dory 30s were built in the US to very high standards, which accounts for their cult-like status and broad appeal. Built with a full keel that, at less than 4', is essentially 'shoal draft'. 

The boat is rugged and perfect for a cruising couple and single-handed solo sailors who want a nice compromise between a pilothouse trawler and a bluewater cruising sailboat. The rigging is so smooth that you don't even need to use the beautiful bronze winches. 

There is quite a substantial list of upgrades and improvements , including: 

• Four new batteries (2026)
• New battery cables (2021)
• Fuel filter (2021)
• New diesel pump and solenoid (2025)
• Water pump impeller (2021)
• Coolant hoses (2021)
• Heat exchanger vat cleaned & tested (2021)
• Heat exchanger elbow (2021)
• New alternator (2021)
• New battery charger (2025)
• New Xantrex 2kw inverter
• New bilge high water alarm and switch
• New 15 amp sub panel, with circuit switches, volt meter and charging ports
• Engine oil & filter (Dec. 2025)
• Bottom paint (2025)
• New sails (2025)
• New standing rigging (2025)
• New running rigging (2025)
• Fresh hull paint (2025)
• Fresh deck & wheelhouse paint (2025)
• New macerator and head hoses
• New Garmin instruments for wind & depth (2025)
• New prop shaft & seal (2025)
• New bimini with side mesh curtains (2025)
• New hatch gaskets (2025)
• New hatch gasket and polycarbonate lens (Forward only. 2025)
• New mast lights (2025)
• New Garmin Wind instrumentation package (2025)
• All new cabling in the mast, including instrumentation, antennae and lighting power cables (2025)
• Recent engine service, including replacement of fuel filter, oil & filter change, new glow plugs & solenoid, impeller and sediment bowl cleaning (2025)

Sale includes all current safety equipment and an inventory of spares.

Contact the broker for access to a huge library of images and a walk-through video, and to make an appointment to take a look at this beautiful cruiser before it's sold.

Comprehensive 5+ TB digital cruisers' library available, with thousands of movies, concert videos, TV shows, documentaries, audio books, plus hundreds of thousands of books in .pdf format. 

Listing MLS by Yachtr.com